Over the years, several audience expectations have developed in regards to the Summer Movie Season, and perhaps the most prevalent involves a new Marvel superhero film to lead in the rest of the upcoming blockbusters. Ever since 2008’s Iron Man launched the connected Marvel Cinematic Universe with the ultimate intention of bringing all of the publisher’s most popular characters together and showcasing a superhero team in 2012’s The Avengers, audience interest in new heroes (though already high) skyrocketed. In speaking of the core superheroes that make up the founding members of The Avengers, Iron Man and the Hulk have more than proven themselves as commercial and critical success stories, and in July, audiences will meet the eternally patriotic Captain America in Captain America: The First Avenger; but first, they would have to meet the Norse God of Thunder himself…Thor. Just like last summer’s Iron Man 2, Paramount swung for the fences with a surprisingly aggressive marketing program, and given Thor’s strong opening internationally, there was little doubt that domestic audiences would respond in kind. Being a hardcore and self-proclaimed comic book geek, I of course was thrilled for Thor, but I confess to being a little skeptical over how moviegoers would respond to the notoriously tricky source material for a character directly based on Norse Mythology.
Before opening on the U.S., Thor boasted a 95% approval rating on RottenTomatoes, and though I disagree with ranking this newest superhero film quite that high, I still enjoyed the overall experience. Chris Hemsworth gives a breakthrough performance as the arrogant and oftentimes unintentionally humorous Thor, successfully navigating the difficult character through significant stages of development that generate genuine audience sympathy. In terms of supporting cast, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins are welcome additions, but the biggest surprise is Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s treacherous brother, Loki, who is one of the best villains I have encountered in recent memory. Special effects and battle sequences add to the appeal of Thor, but the complicated nature of the character’s back-story at times slows or outright stalls the pacing of the film, severely weakening Thor’s status as a standalone film. Though not quite perfect, Thor is still entertaining and sure to please both comic mythos purists and casual fans alike.
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Overall Recommendation: High
